Caged bird background

Sunday 29 January 2012



Watching this at the moment and it genuinely breaks my heart. The complete panic and confusion people experience as information is corrupted by being retold too many times. The expressions on peoples faces in the street regardless of wether or not they have people in the towers conveys the collective humanity and compassion felt for the people trapped. Tears shed for strangers.
The impossible choices having to be made by all envolved. The people trapped who had no choice...
"A 'jumper' is somebody who goes to the office in the morning knowing that they will commit suicide... These people were forced out by the smoke and flames or blown out"
The impossible task that lay before the firefighters, how do you extinguish fires and help people 78 floors up?
Trying to maintain some sembelance of control over a situation that no one could have fathomed.
“Of course anyone who truly loves books buys more of them than he or she can hope to read in one fleeting lifetime. A good book, resting unopened in its slot on a shelf, full of majestic potentiality, is the most comforting sort of intellectual wallpaper.”—David Quammen

Saturday 28 January 2012

Friday 27 January 2012

My soul to save by rachel vincent (2 minute review)

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick, two minute review

Long lie!!

Actually had some what of a long lie today and it was AMAZING!! First one in like a week, first one without exam stress. Good times essentially.
Having a fairly productive day aswell considering that during studying most days i was either still in bed or on the couch by this time.

Monday 23 January 2012

Nevermore review

miscellaneous book bookhaul

Jedward - WOW OH WOW


No part of me should like this....

A day in the life of a canvas courier Auguest 16th 2011

For people who wondered what I actually did while in France this is pretty much it:

Alarm goes of at 8ish, blaring Taylor Swift. Its cold, I'll snooze it for 10 minutes then re-evaluate. Its ment to be really nice and sunny today so today is as good a day as any to get some of my second/third hand uniform washed. Alarm goes off again, its till cold but my bladder is beginning to protest at being ignored and since Im not one of the guys i cant just go behind my tent and se have to sprint to the toilet block. I sit up with my sleeping bag drapper round me like a cape and sort thoug the uniform thats scattered all over my double bed. Uniform very quickly shoved on, its too cold to take too long about it.
Quick wash of the rest of my uniform and hang it out to dry in the sun that im told will arrive later in the day. Breakfast! The area manager is on site so today isnt a day to be late. Reception at 9, cleaning lists handed out, only two cleans for today, could be done by lunch then be off till afternoon reception at 4. Plenty of time to eat lunch, do the washing up front last night, have a shower and maybe even lie in the sun before reception. First clean is 277 which is empty when i cycle down. The family threw me out of it the day before (they were only a one night stay) and so wanted it quickly rather than waiting till i was finished cleaning. Had done most of it apart from the floor so figured it wouldnt be too long to clean. Since its a nice day outside white furniture and windows all need done which adds a bit of time to the clean. Mr O (one of the nicest customers Ive ever met) appears at my clean and gives me too giant tarts for all the couriers, a lemon and a cherry. Today he brought me a cornetto style ice cream and some pink drink with bits in, either pink lemonade or grapefruit id guess. I love our customers! Got the clean finished in two hours. Only one left, 226 (just next door thanks to the odd numbering system). Its left in a fairly good state by comparrison. Hannah came round for a quick chat and showed me how to polish kettles with washing up liquid till they gleam.
Finished my cleans for 3, not exactly the early finish i was hoping for. Ran back to the live area and quickly had some biscotte and philly for lunch before going to do my share of the dishes from the previous night. Had a joke with Andy about wether I could mutlitask and do the dishes in the shower. Had the fastest shower of my life (its worth noting we had a bit of a heat wave so everyone was feeling a little clatty).
On reception for 4. Had 4 or 5 arrivals pretty much one after the other so was only waiting on 3. Went down to look at a BBQ for a dutch family. The thing was utterly broken. Went to the store tent on the other side of the golf course to get a replacement charcoal BBQ and got bitten by a massive bug which caused my leg to come out in a massive bumb. Assembled said BBQ for now rather unimpressed looking family and supplied them with charcoal and matches.
Come back to reception and sit on the deck in the sunny reading trashy magazine and watching lizards chasing each other. Had a chat with some customers about the weather, thunderstorms forecast. 8 oclock, recpetion over - letters left and maps drawn for my only customers whove not arrived.
To the cook tent for pasta and cheese. Pasta on to cook and the phone rings with customers asking if we can phone Bernie to let them know they'll be a wee bit late. Text Bernie. Pasta ready. Pasta eaten. Arrivals arrived and shown themselves in. Popped down for a vist but theyre out. Probably at the disco that i can hear from the cooktent.

And thats pretty much your average day as a courier.

Sunday 22 January 2012

If i had the same amount of enthusiasm in the morning that i had the night before i would be an unstopable force. But since I dont, youre all fine.

Friday 20 January 2012

DISHONOR


Pretty much just had this in relation to saying I think I failed my marketing exam....
Theres a wonderful feeling in being almost 100% certain you've failed at something and just not caring.

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Caved to Amazon

Finally figured out what to spend some of my gift voucher on. So for 14 pounds I got four books:

Blood Bound - Rachel Vincent
Hounded: The Iron Druid Cbronicles - Kevin Hearne
The Iron King - Julie Kagawa
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Darkside - Beth Fantasky

Really looking forward to getting my hands on these although I still have a massive to be read pile.

Bit jealous of america

Books tend to come out sooner in America  than they do in the UK which makes me sad cause i find really awesome books from goodreads and youtubers then i cant buy them here. Its properly annoying cause i can pre-order them on amazon but it doesnt tell you when it is actually going to be released.

Monday 16 January 2012

I want my amazon stuff so much but at the same time i know if i get it I wont be able to enjoy it till my exams are over.... bad times.

THIS!!

Bookage

Starting to find more books I want on amazon/goodreads but trying to resist buying them till I work my way through the books Ive already bought that have little yellow waiting to be read stickers on them.
Found a couple of books that have really mixed reviews which makes me want to read them to see what side of the marmite line Im going to fall on.
By the end of this week exams will be over and I can read again without feeling guilty as sin cause Im not studying.

Sunday 15 January 2012

Post Exam Stuffs

  • Do paperwork for Camp
  • Have a mass, take no prisoner clear out of my room
  • Re-arrange furniture in my room
  • Arrange a social outing/gathering
  • Move the mass amounts of data from old laptop to new.
  • Spend a day chilling, reading good books and treating myself.
  • Eat cake
  • Visit Scotlands book town
  • Finish Scotts room/Wall of Awesome
  • Bookcase expansion

    You know your running out for space when you start putting them ontop of a bookcase and double stacking rows. Add to the fact that these arent actually all of them since i have two boxes worth under my bed I think i have an obsession.

    Today i am thankful for...



    Little yellow dots


    I have a lot of books. Anyone who knows me will be able to tell you that. Hell if you read this blog you will probably be able to sence my obsession. Because of this I loss track of what i have and havent read. This is where the little yellow dots come into play. An unread book gets a little yellow dot and that way i can keep track.

    Thankful for Making an effort

    Shouldnt have looked at past papers. All its done is freak me out cause im looking at the question and i know the answer it wants but i cant remember the words.....

    Thursday 12 January 2012

    Never thought of that but doing it from now on


    Had such a hankering for France today it was rediculous. I miss my tent. I miss the rain and the wind at night when Im in bed. I miss the early morning dash to the toilets. I miss the showers that were always warm. I miss the DVD nights. I miss being ti-red. I miss the Pierrefitte crazy dance. I miss reading the paper aloud in the morning. I miss disco dishes. I miss the scavangers. I miss the mice. I miss swimming in the lack. I miss the shows. I miss customer visits. I miss the lightening storms. I miss the terror of the phone rining. I miss catching myself singing with headphones in as I  clean.  I miss the companionship. I miss the problem solving. I miss the knowledge. I miss the language. I miss all cooking together. I miss trying to nibble through pretzels. I miss murder mystery. I miss the surprises. I miss "FUCK MY LIFE". I miss "WHAT A LOADA SHIT". I miss set fire to the rain. I miss the kittens.
    I miss FRANCE!!
    This is awfully cute. Full intension on doing this next year. Love the style of the fair lights aswell.

    Romance Books spoil me


    Im not going to pine after Edward Cullen or cry when I see pictures of Robert Pattinson with his newly shaved head but there are some cracking good fictional men out there. There are guys who write poetry and always know just what to say. Guys who will make you breakfast in bed. Guys who will sing to you. Men like that i believe only exist on paper and that really is where they should belong. They are great for story telling but in reality would you really want a guy who wants to be with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Would you want a guy who brings you toast so you get crumbs in your sheets? I would rather have a guy I can have a proper conversation with rather than mere flirtations. I guy who is lovable because I confuse him with the way my mind works. I guy I can look after (21st centuary woman and all but I like to cook). There are no perfect men, only men who are perfect for you. Althought if I could have Patch with a bow on or Sam with a ribbon i wouldn't argue




    2 Minute(ish) Review of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

    2 Minute Review of Dearly Departed

    Book Challenge

    Finished the first two books in my 50 book challenge. Thinking about making 60 second review videos to ensure i dont ramble. Might look into that once I'm finished stressing about exams.

    Wednesday 11 January 2012

    I want to live in a world where i can start a conversation with a stranger on a train about the book they're reading.

    Stuff and Things but mostly Stuff

    Criminal Minds. Hugs. Happy Tears. Frank Turner. Country Roads. Big eyes. Removing heels. Late night/early morning texts. Pierced Lips. Morning Stretch. Good Books. Backless Dress. Nice Pants. Vampires. Bram. Cold Toes. Satisfied Sighs. New Albums. Eye Liner. Kittens. Tea Lights Surprise Meetings. GoodReads. Lion Hair. Sexy Smiles. Home-made meals. Chocolate cookies. Pretty Photos. Bed Head. Hot Showers. Bones. Cover Art. Book Shops. Puppies. Steaks. Elbow Clicks. Unplanned Adventures. Ikea. Lemonade. Summer. Common Interests. Journals. Sing alongs. Disney Films.

    Tears

    Literally cant seem to watch anything atm without crying along to it, Youtube videos, one born every minute, the cancer support advert, TOPGEAR!
    Its a wonder Ive not dehydrated myself.

    11/01/2012

    Cant belive its 2012.
    Had a fairly unproductive day today, probably something to do with the fact that i didnt sleep till after 2 last night and so slept rather long today. Been dreaming alot recently and the subject of lasts nights dream was shark attacks. It was filmed in a sort of making of style where there was an elephant seal on my boat then in a rathr jawsy fashion the back of my boat got bitten off along with my foot that you see floating across the deck in a later shot. Yeah I have weird dreams. When i finally got up I turned on my bedroom light then looked at my bed again and decided that going back to bed with my book again for the next hour was the best plan of action. Only started Hush Hush last night and already nearly half way through and bought the sequel on amazon today.
    Went down town and bought two new books as well. Technically only one was new cause the otherone was simply to replace one that was borrowed like a year ago and I still havent gotten back. The other is called Unleashed i think and it has a very pretty front cover. Its warewolfy and bought from Asda not Amazon.
    Have studied a wee bit today aswell but my head just wasn't in the game. Kinda freaking out about these exams and kind of relaxed to. Its a weird feeling.

    The Joy of Books

    UK Official Chart - Top 40 Singles (1/14/12)

    Monday 9 January 2012

    Buying a book is not about obtaining a possession, but about securing a portal.

    Sunday 8 January 2012

    Stress level reduced

    Managed to get onto the past papers for one of my subjects today and feeling less stressed now. Like if I'd sat down and seen it in an exam situation i wouldnt have ran sobbing from the room. Also realised that i had my exam dates the wrong way round, opps. Did my third close in three days so feeling like I've earned the next four days off to study like a mad thing.
    Went to Tesco when i finished my shift to and bought myself a cute little notebook so my scribbles of 2011 shall begin. Its small enough that i can carry it back and forward to uni without it adding much weight so im going to attempt to have it on my person at all times, within reason anyway. Bought a little tiny pack of crayons to go with it to and ill find a nice pen to write in it with. Its going to be a home for all my little ramblings and lists and things i think are pretty.
    Mum cleaned out the hall cupboard last night aswell and i found a train ticket from like my first day of uni and i got all nostalgic.

    Saturday 7 January 2012

    I wish i could touch a book and just absorb it.

    Stress level heightening.....

    Up wayyy too early today for staff meeting but was worth going to because as always it had such a big impact on the shift tonight. We were on fire, thankfully not literally and if we can keep on like that we'll be golden. Had a wee outing as well with some of the folks from work to Frankie and Bennys and ate loads!!! Had full intension of studying when i came home from the meeting but was actually shattered so kind of went to bed instead. I will study tomorrow, honest.... starting to stress.

    Friday 6 January 2012

    Life related Stuff's

    This has never happened to me before but right now i have an amazon gift voucher to spend and I do not have an overwhelming urge to spend it! Might have something to do with the 13 new books that wont fit on my bookshelf and so are instead living in the amazon box they came in until such times as i buy a bigger box case or *gasp* get rid of some of my books. In additonal bookish type news I've sort of restarted my book challenge so that i have exactly a year to read them starting from January 1st rather than a random date in Sepetember. Kind of works out though because from septemeber till December 31st was a nice little test run of how much I can read when i can be bothered to read regularily.
    Additonal less interresting reading type news - I read over 75 pages of text book today and you know how long it took me ? Three hours. I realised i read in a very slow monotonous voice in my head when i read textbooks so going to need to try and skip read the rest of the book I think if I am to stand any chance of reading it all before the exam. Starting to really worry about my exams thought. Although one minute I'm like meh I'll be fine, wing it and just write something, you dont need to do fantastically just well enough to pass so you can do better next time and the minute im like IMMA GONNA FAIL!!!!
    I do have a lot riding on this though, sort of. Possibly. More of that nearer the possibilty of it being a solid possibility.
    Ever find that when you're studying for an exam aswell everything else in life suddenly becomes so much more important? Pretty sure last time  had to study i created a new filing system for bank statements, not a word of a lie. This time round i just want a general overhaul of my room, starting to gather so much junk again its not even funny. I have stuff though that i dont know what to do with cause its like stuff you know you should keep like things from School and the like but i don't particularily want to keep in my room. Maybe I could pinch a box from work and stick it up the loft or in the top of the spare bedroom wardrobe. Its not just my room in hankering to clean though cause theres loads of little things in other rooms of the house i wouldn't mind organising.
    February shall be my month of socialness I think cause I didnt get to do as much as I wanted over the christmas holidays due to always feeling guilty about not studying and cause I'm working like a mad thing atm.

    Aye so that was a bit longer than i intended it to be but ummm yeah

    There will also be some vloggage when i look more awake and more human.

    Wednesday 4 January 2012

    Stuff of the day

    Got up  at a time that could almost be considered early. Well to me at least. Had a KFC and sat in the car park at the beach while it tipped it down outside and had one of the most TMI conversations of my life. Came home and did some revision, my brain is actually melting from reading that much Consumer Behaviour in one go.

    GOT MY AMAZON VOUCHER! So sadly excited about this but right now not a clue what to spend it on cause i have loads of books i got for christmas that i need to read first.

    Shopping tomorrow with the girls even though i really ought to be doing revision. Im gonna fail uni but right now i cant bring myself to care.

    Monday 2 January 2012

    Misery is so 2011

    So incase people hadnt noticed I'd been a bit down the last few weeks/months but its the start of a new year and by gum this year is going to be awesome. So thought id take some time and think of the little things that make me smile.

    Singing along to musicals with others - Sweeney Todd

    Singing along to musicals when I'm alone - Moulin Rouge (I swear I'm a secret broadway star)

    Letter writting to people in far flung places - Holland

    Beating someone who's a little too big for his boots - Mini Golf

    Having a genuine group of people who are just as mental as me to work with - You know who you guys are!

    Unexpected tweets/texts at random times of the day and night - You guys make me smile

    Home improvements - Bedside table constructed of old laptop and amazon box - I will buy a proper one from Ikea

    Amazon - I love it too much, it eats my pennies.

    Trains - Yeah they are a bit of a pain in the bum but they give me time to read books that i wouldnt really get otherwise

    Revision - Yeah its sad as hell but I sort of like revising now that I'm getting into it. Going to go mad with post-it notes and mindmaps in the next few days.

    Driving - Had too journeys to my grans recently and nothing has made me smile like driving along country roads with Frank Turner blaring.

    Plans - I have so many plans this year and i cant wait to see which ones i manage to achieve

    Small Animals - Luvage for the small squeaky guinea pig.

    Sunday 1 January 2012

    Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

    I want the type of love where we can leave each other sappy post-it notes.

    My Bookshelf

    Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog